Festool Router Guide: OF 1010 vs OF 1400 vs OF 2200 Compared
What's inside
- Festool OF 1010 vs OF 1400 vs OF 2200 at a glance
- The short buying decision
- Head-to-head comparison
- Decision matrix: match the router to the work
- Why the OF 1400 is the default recommendation
- Accessories and compatibility that affect the decision
- Ownership realities: wear, cleaning, and common mistakes
- Final verdict
- Festool OF 1010 vs OF 1400 vs OF 2200 at a glance
- The short buying decision
- Head-to-head comparison
- Decision matrix: match the router to the work
- Why the OF 1400 is the default recommendation
- Accessories and compatibility that affect the decision
- Ownership realities: wear, cleaning, and common mistakes
- Final verdict
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Choose the Festool OF 1010 for edge work and lighter routing, the OF 1400 for the best all-round balance, and the OF 2200 when large cutters, deep passes, and sustained production work justify its size and price.
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Contents
- Festool OF 1010 vs OF 1400 vs OF 2200 at a glance
- The short buying decision
- Head-to-head comparison
- Decision matrix: match the router to the work
- Why the OF 1400 is the default recommendation
- Accessories and compatibility that affect the decision
- Ownership realities: wear, cleaning, and common mistakes
- Final verdict
Festool OF 1010 vs OF 1400 vs OF 2200 at a glance
| Model | Motor input | Plunge depth | Collet capacity | Approx. weight | Typical U.S. market range in 2026 | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Festool OF 1010 | 1,010 W | 55 mm | 1/4 in and 8 mm | About 2.7 kg | $700–$900 | Trim work, small joinery, templates, and furniture-scale routing |
| Festool OF 1400 | 1,400 W | 70 mm | 1/4 in, 8 mm, and 1/2 in | About 4.5 kg | $900–$1,200 | General furniture, worktops, dados, rebates, and larger profiles |
| Festool OF 2200 | 2,200 W | 80 mm | 1/2 in and 12 mm | About 8.3 kg | $1,400–$1,800 | Large cutters, deep hardwood work, doors, worktops, and production routing |
Specifications and included accessories can vary by regional version and kit, so confirm the exact package before ordering. The price ranges above are broad market estimates rather than fixed manufacturer prices.
The short buying decision
- Buy the OF 1010 if most of your work involves hinge mortises, sign making, small template jobs, edge profiles, shallow dados, or routing on parts that are awkward to hold. Its low weight makes accurate control easier.
- Buy the OF 1400 if you want one corded Festool router to cover the widest range of cabinetmaking and furniture work. It accepts 1/2-inch cutters, has materially more plunge capacity than the OF 1010, and remains manageable away from a router table.
- Buy the OF 2200 if your work regularly demands large-diameter cutters, deep material removal, long passes in hardwood, or heavy joinery. It is a specialist heavy router, not simply an upgraded version of the smaller machines.
Head-to-head comparison
Plunge depth and working range
The OF 1010’s approximately 55 mm of plunge is enough for most small and medium furniture operations. It is particularly well matched to template routing, shallow mortises, hinge recesses, and decorative edge work. Its compact body also gives better visibility around a small template or narrow component.
The OF 1400 extends plunge travel to about 70 mm. That extra capacity matters when using guide bushings, routing deeper mortises in stages, or working with thicker stock. It also gives the machine more room to grow with your projects than the OF 1010.
The OF 2200 provides roughly 80 mm of plunge travel and is designed around demanding cuts rather than occasional extra depth. More depth does not mean a cut should be made in one pass. Deep cuts should still be divided into several passes to reduce heat, cutter deflection, and strain on the workpiece.
Motor wattage and cutter size
The OF 1010’s 1,010-watt motor is efficient for smaller cutters and moderate feed rates. Its advantage is not brute force; it is control. A lighter router is less tiring to move and less likely to damage a small part when the operator is positioning a template or starting an edge cut.
At 1,400 watts, the OF 1400 has a more useful reserve for hardwood, larger rebates, and 1/2-inch shank cutters. It is the sensible middle choice for a shop that builds cabinets, tables, doors, and built-ins but does not routinely remove large volumes of material.
The 2,200-watt OF 2200 is intended for high-load routing. Its additional power helps maintain speed with larger cutters and heavy hardwood cuts, but it also increases the consequences of poor technique. Large cutters require a firm workholding setup, correct speed selection, controlled feed, and eye and hearing protection.
Dust extraction quality
All three routers benefit substantially from Festool’s enclosed extraction accessories and a compatible dust extractor, but their results differ with the operation. The OF 1010 usually gives very good collection on edge profiles and template work because the smaller cutter area is easier to enclose. It is also convenient for fine indoor work where keeping dust off a small bench is important.
The OF 1400 offers the most useful combination of extraction and versatility. Its dust hood and accessory support handle many above-the-workpiece operations well, although plunge routing into an open mortise will always release some chips. A dust extractor with an appropriate hose and a clean filter makes a larger difference than changing between these three routers.
The OF 2200 can collect dust effectively during enclosed or guided cuts, but its larger cutters produce more chips and airflow turbulence. Do not judge extraction by the router alone: use the correct hood, keep the hose clear, and position the work so chips have somewhere to travel into the hood. Open dadoes, edge shaping, and deep pockets will never be as clean as an enclosed template cut.
Decision matrix: match the router to the work
| Your situation | Recommended model | Why | What to accept as a trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner or occasional DIY user | OF 1010 | Light, controllable, and sufficient for common small-router tasks | Limited to smaller cutters and less plunge capacity |
| One router for a varied furniture shop | OF 1400 | Strongest balance of power, capacity, accessories, and portability | Heavier and more expensive than the OF 1010 |
| Frequent hardwood or worktop routing | OF 1400 or OF 2200 | Choose the OF 1400 for mixed work; the OF 2200 for repeated heavy cuts | The OF 2200 is cumbersome for delicate, small-part routing |
| Large 1/2-inch or 12 mm cutters | OF 1400 or OF 2200 | Both provide the larger collet format required by many heavy cutters | More weight, setup time, and cutter cost |
| Limited bench or storage space | OF 1010 | Its compact footprint is easier to store and maneuver | It is not the right choice for sustained high-load work |
| Production use with long, demanding passes | OF 2200 | Highest power and deepest plunge range | Highest price and physical fatigue if used for small jobs |
Why the OF 1400 is the default recommendation
The OF 1400 occupies the useful middle ground. Compared with the OF 1010, it accepts larger cutters and offers about 15 mm more plunge depth. Compared with the OF 2200, it is dramatically easier to lift, guide, and reposition. For many woodworkers, that balance prevents two common mistakes: buying a router that is too small for future projects, or buying a heavy machine that stays in the cabinet because it is inconvenient.
Consider a shop that routes 20 projects per year. If the OF 1400 costs $1,050 and remains useful for eight years, its purchase cost works out to about $6.56 per project before accessories and maintenance. The calculation is not a promise of service life, but it illustrates why the cheapest initial option is not always the lowest-cost choice if it forces a second purchase later.
Accessories and compatibility that affect the decision
Do not compare the bare motor wattage alone. Check whether the package includes the guide rail adapter, edge guide, dust hood, guide bushings, collets, and systainer or storage case you actually need. The OF 1010 is particularly attractive when your work is built around compact templates and smaller guide systems. The OF 1400 and OF 2200 make more sense when your existing cutters and accessories use 1/2-inch or 12 mm shanks.
For router-table use, verify the table lift, insert opening, mounting arrangement, and above-table adjustment method before committing. A large plunge router may be powerful under a table but unnecessarily awkward for handheld work. Conversely, the OF 1010’s portability does not make it a substitute for a heavy machine when a large panel-raising or door-making cutter is involved.
Ownership realities: wear, cleaning, and common mistakes
- Collets and cutters wear first. Keep the collet clean, insert the shank fully without bottoming it out, then withdraw it slightly before tightening. Replace damaged or contaminated collets rather than compensating with excessive tightening.
- Dust affects adjustment. Fine dust can collect around plunge columns, depth stops, and the extraction hood. Brush or vacuum the machine after use; avoid forcing debris into the bearings or switch.
- Do not confuse power with feed speed. A powerful router can still burn hardwood if the cutter is dull, the bit speed is too high, or the feed is too slow. Make multiple passes when removing substantial material.
- Secure the workpiece. The OF 2200 in particular can move a poorly clamped board. Use clamps outside the cutter path and provide support on both sides of a cut where possible.
- Inspect extraction hoses and hoods. A blocked hose reduces collection and can make a clean cut appear to be a machine problem.
Final verdict
The Festool OF 1010 is the best fit for precision-oriented users who value low weight and mostly use small cutters. The OF 1400 is the strongest all-purpose choice for most serious furniture and cabinet shops. The OF 2200 earns its premium when heavy routing is a regular part of the workload, not merely an occasional possibility. Size the router to the cuts you make repeatedly: extra power is valuable only when the job can use it, while excess weight is present on every job.